Summary

Crimea War medal awarded to H. Kelly, 38th Regiment, 1854-56 (with bars: Alma, Inkermann, Sebastopol.)

The Crimea War resulted from Russian attempts to expand into the Black Sea and Mediterranian at the expence of the Ottoman Empire (Türkiye). Initially British and French naval forces were sent to protect shipping but a Russian land invasion forced a declaration of war on 23 March 1854. Russia soon withdrew but the allies decided to reduce her strenght in the region and mounted an expedition into the Crimea Peninsular, there to destroy her main naval base at Sebastopol.

This medal was sanctioned on 15th December 1854, with bars for Alma and Inkerman. The bar for Balaclava was sanctioned on 23 Feb. 1855 and that for Sebastopol on 13 Oct. 1855.

Physical Description

A silver medal (35 mm diameter) with mount and bars : ALMA, INKERMANN, SEBASTOPOL (ribbon missing). It features on the obverse a diademed head of Queen Victoria facing left; around, VICTORIA REGINA, below her neck, 1854; the artist's name W. WYON R.A. is on the neck truncation. The reverse depicts a Roman soldier standing facing, in his right hand he holds a short sword in its scabbard in a resting position, in his left a circular shield decorated with a British lion advancing left. Victory flies at his left and is crowning him with a laurel wreath, vertically in the left field of the medal, CRIMEA; the artists name in small letters, B. WYON against the rim at the right. The edge in indented capitals: H. KELLY 38TH. REGT.

Obverse Description

A diademed head of Queen Victoria facing left; around, VICTORIA REGINA, below her neck, 1854; the artist's name W. WYON R.A. is on the neck truncation.

Reverse Description

A Roman soldier standing facing, in his right hand he holds a short sword in its scabbard in a resting position, in his left a circular shield decorated with a British lion advancing left. Victory flies at his left and is crowning him with a laurel wreath, vertically in the left field of the medal, CRIMEA; the artists name in small letters, B. WYON against the rim at the right.

Edge Description

H. KELLY 38TH. REGT.

More Information